Soft collision target

Abstract

A soft collision target, in particular for use within the framework of non-destructive collision tests, has an illumination device that comprises at least one illuminant and a covering structure, wherein the covering structure surrounds the illuminant and is configured to absorb forces acting on the illumination device on a collision and/or to conduct them at least partly past the illuminant.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A soft collision target non-destructive collision tests, the soft collision target including:
 a frame having a predefined shape; 
 an outer cover disposed around the frame with the outer cover having at least one radar reflective area and radar absorbing area; 
 an illumination device connected to the outer cover with the illumination device comprising: 
 at least one illuminant; and 
 a covering structure surrounding the illuminant to absorb forces acting on the illumination device during a collision by conducting the forces at least partly past the illuminant; 
 wherein the covering structure and the illuminant are elastically deformable as a unit between a planar position prior to the collision, and a bent position during the collision of the destructive collision test; 
 wherein the illumination device comprises at least one releasable connector for a power supply and a control device with the connector disconnecting and unhooking the illumination device from the power supply and control device during the collision when the illumination device is in the bent position. 
 
     
     
       2. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is at least areal. 
     
     
       3. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device returns to the planar position after being in the bent position. 
     
     
       4. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a material of the covering structure comprises silicone. 
     
     
       5. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
       6. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the illuminant comprises at least one LED of a red color, at least one LED of a yellow color and/or at least one LED of a white color. 
     
     
       7. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the releasable connector is a magnetic coupling with a complementary connector apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device can be controlled to transmit different illumination characteristics. 
     
     
       9. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the different illumination characteristics are selected from the group of members of a differing pulse frequency, a differing pulse break ratio, a differing duration, a differing color, a differing brightness, a differing spatial extent, a differing spatial pattern and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the frame and outer cover simulates a vehicle and the illumination device is arranged on the outer cover to simulate a vehicle illumination of the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle illumination is at least one of a brake light and at least one turn indicator. 
     
     
       12. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is controlled through at least one of a serial bus system in accordance with ISO 11898 and a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor. 
     
     
       13. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device is removeably connected with the soft collision target. 
     
     
       14. The soft collision target in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the illumination device, as a unit, can be about 90 degrees relative to the planar position prior to the collision. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for carrying out non-destructive collision tests, the apparatus comprising:
 a soft collision target including:
 a frame having a predefined shape; 
 an outer cover disposed around the frame with the outer cover having at least one radar reflective area and radar absorbing area; and 
 an illumination device connected with the outer cover; 
 
 a control device controlling the illumination device by transmitting an illumination characteristic to signal a driving condition of the soft collision target; 
 wherein the illumination device comprises at least one illuminant and a covering structure, the covering structure and the illuminate being flexible with the illuminant molded into the covering structure and the covering structure surrounding the illuminant to absorb forces acting on the illumination device during a collision by conducting the forces at least partly past the illuminant; 
 wherein the illumination device, as a unit, is elastically deformable to move from a planar position prior to the collision to a bent position during the collision of the destructive collision test to absorb forces during the collision; and 
 wherein the illumination device comprises at least one releasable connector for a power supply and a control device with the connector disconnecting and unhooking the illumination device from the power supply and control device during the collision when the illumination device is in the bent position. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the control device is-associates a respective nominal driving condition with points of a predefined travel trajectory of the soft collision target and controls the illumination device to transmit an illumination characteristic associated with the respective nominal driving condition. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the control device derives a respective driving condition from received travel parameters of the soft collision target and controls the illumination device to transmit an illumination characteristic associated with the respective actual travel condition. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the illumination device, as a unit, can be about 90 degrees relative to the planar position prior to the collision.